Lübeck's old town is located on an island, which is mainly surrounded by the Trave and Wakenitz rivers. If you enter the island from the west, you are greeted by one of Lübeck's most famous landmarks, the Holsten Gate . Along with the Burgtor to the north, it is the only surviving city gate in Lübeck and contains a museum about the city's history. If you look closely, you will notice that the Holsten Gate is slightly crooked. This is because the gate was built on moor and peat, which could not withstand the heavy mass of the towers. The left gate has sunk more and more over the years and is now partially below the surface of the earth. The Holsten Gate is guarded by a sleeping and watching lion made of cast iron.
The Holstentor photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
Lübeck is also often referred to as the "city of seven towers" because the city's skyline is dominated by the towers of a total of five churches. The most famous of the churches is probably St. Mary's Church - and not just because of its imposing walls, but also because of the legends surrounding it. In front of the church sits a small devil who is said to have supported the construction of the church when people told him that a wine house was being built there. Shortly before completion, however, the devil realized that he had been lied to and that a church was actually being built. Full of anger, he took a huge boulder and wanted to use it to destroy the building. Before he could do this, however, the people promised him that they would build an inn right next to the church and so the devil dropped the stone next to the church. To this day, the so-called Ratskeller is located next to the church and the heavy rock with deep marks of devil's claws is right next to the entrance to the church. There is also a small, grinning figure of the devil sitting on the rock. Its horns shimmer gold because it is believed that touching its horns calms the devil and brings good luck. A small church mouse is also hidden in the walls of the church and also represents good luck when touched.
St. Mary's Church and the little devil photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
Of course, the other churches in Lübeck are also worth a visit, as they all have their own special features. One church that we would still like to recommend is St. Peter's Church . For a small entrance fee, you can take a lift up to the tower and look at the beautiful old town from above. From there you have a great view of the Holsten Gate and can discover the other towers in Lübeck, as well as simply enjoy the great view!
The Petri Church and Lübeck from above photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
In LA - or Lübeck's old town - there are also around 90 mysterious passageways and courtyards to explore. They are part of the UNESCO World Heritage and most of them are open to the public and spread out across the city center. None of the passageways and courtyards are similar to the other, as they are filled with different stalls and gardens lovingly tended by the residents. The courtyards have a calm atmosphere and seem like a small refuge from the hustle and bustle of life.
Some courtyards and corridors photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
The Lower and Upper Trave invite you to stroll and explore. In addition to the beautiful gabled houses, there are also boats and ships to discover, which give the city a real harbor atmosphere.
The Untertrave photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
If you want to breathe in some sea air, you should visit Lübeck-Travemünde . It is located directly on the Bay of Lübeck and is part of the Baltic Sea. A long promenade invites you to take a stroll and a sandy beach invites you to linger. Of course, you should also definitely jump into the water if the temperatures allow it!
Travemünde photographed by Karin Belkowski
Of course we couldn't show you all the spots in Lübeck, but we hope that you were able to get a little insight into the beautiful city and that you feel like stopping by! Many shops in the area sell our PICKMOTION products , which perfectly capture the atmosphere of the north and make a great gift or souvenir - so be sure to take a look around! Are you a retailer and would like to sell our products in your shop? Then take a look at our B2B shop and find lots of regional motifs!
